I passed along the lane I have described, without perceiving or being observed by a human being. The doors were shut, the window-shutters closed, and all was still as night. I reached the extremity1 of the lane unmolested. My pursuers, if they immediately followed, would know that the likelihood was small, of my having in the interval2 found shelter in this place; and would proceed without hesitation3, as I on my part was obliged to do, from the end nearest to the prison to its furthest termination.
The face of the country, in the spot to which I had thus opened myself a passage, was rude and uncultivated. It was overgrown with brushwood and furze; the soil was for the most part of a loose sand; and the surface extremely irregular. I climbed a small eminence4, and could perceive, not very remote in the distance, a few cottages thinly scattered5. This prospect6 did not altogether please me; I conceived that my safety would, for the present, be extremely assisted, by keeping myself from the view of any human being.
I therefore came down again into the valley, and upon a careful examination perceived that it was interspersed7 with cavities, some deeper than others, but all of them so shallow, as neither to be capable of hiding a man, nor of exciting suspicion as places of possible concealment8. Meanwhile the day had but just begun to dawn; the morning was lowering and drizzly9; and, though the depth of these caverns10 was of course well known to the neighbouring inhabitants, the shadows they cast were so black and impenetrable, as might well have produced wider expectations in the mind of a stranger. Poor therefore as was the protection they were able to afford, I thought it right to have recourse to it for the moment, as the best the emergency would supply. It was for my life; and, the greater was the jeopardy12 to which it was exposed, the more dear did that life seem to become to my affections. The recess13 I chose, as most secure, was within little more than a hundred yards of the end of the lane, and the extreme buildings of the town.
I had not stood up in this manner two minutes, before I heard the sound of feet, and presently saw the ordinary turnkey and another pass the place of my retreat. They were so close to me that, if I had stretched out my hand, I believe I could have caught hold of their clothes, without so much as changing my posture14. As no part of the overhanging earth intervened between me and them, I could see them entire, though the deepness of the shade rendered me almost completely invisible. I heard them say to each other, in tones of vehement15 asperity16, “Curse the rascal17! which way can he be gone?” The reply was, “Damn him! I wish we had him but safe once again!”—“Never fear!” rejoined the first; “he cannot have above half a mile the start of us.” They were presently out of hearing; for, as to sight, I dared not advance my body, so much as an inch, to look after them, lest I should be discovered by my pursuers in some other direction. From the very short time that elapsed, between my escape and the appearance of these men, I concluded that they had made their way through the same outlet18 as I had done, it being impossible that they could have had time to come, from the gate of the prison, and so round a considerable part of the town, as they must otherwise have done.
I was so alarmed at this instance of diligence on the part of the enemy, that, for some time, I scarcely ventured to proceed an inch from my place of concealment, or almost to change my posture. The morning, which had been bleak19 and drizzly, was succeeded by a day of heavy and incessant20 rain; and the gloomy state of the air and surrounding objects, together with the extreme nearness of my prison, and a total want of food, caused me to pass the hours in no very agreeable sensations. This inclemency21 of the weather however, which generated a feeling of stillness and solitude22, encouraged me by degrees to change my retreat, for another of the same nature, out of somewhat greater security. I hovered23 with little variation about a single spot, as long as the sun continued above the horizon.
Towards evening, the clouds began to disperse24, and the moon shone, as on the preceding night, in full brightness. I had perceived no human creature during the whole day, except in the instance already mentioned. This had perhaps been owing to the nature of the day; at all events I considered it as too hazardous25 an experiment, to venture from my hiding-place in so clear and fine a night. I was therefore obliged to wait for the setting of this luminary26, which was not till near five o’clock in the morning. My only relief during this interval was to allow myself to sink to the bottom of my cavern11, it being scarcely possible for me to continue any longer on my feet. Here I fell into an interrupted and unrefreshing doze27, the consequence of a laborious28 night, and a tedious, melancholy29 day; though I rather sought to avoid sleep, which, cooperating with the coldness of the season, would tend more to injury than advantage.
The period of darkness, which I had determined30 to use for the purpose of removing to a greater distance from my prison, was, in its whole duration, something less than three hours. When I rose from my seat, I was weak with hunger and fatigue31, and, which was worse, I seemed, between the dampness of the preceding day and the sharp, clear frost of the night, to have lost the command of my limbs. I stood up and shook myself; I leaned against the side of the hill, impelling32 in different directions the muscles of the extremities33; and at length recovered in some degree the sense of feeling. This operation was attended with an incredible aching pain, and required no common share of resolution to encounter and prosecute34 it. Having quitted my retreat, I at first advanced with weak and tottering35 steps; but, as I proceeded, increased my pace. The barren heath, which reached to the edge of the town, was, at least on this side, without a path; but the stars shone, and, guiding myself by them, I determined to steer36 as far as possible from the hateful scene where I had been so long confined. The line I pursued was of irregular surface, sometimes obliging me to climb a steep ascent37, and at others to go down into a dark and impenetrable dell. I was often compelled, by the dangerousness of the way, to deviate38 considerably39 from the direction I wished to pursue. In the mean time I advanced with as much rapidity as these and similar obstacles would permit me to do. The swiftness of the motion, and the thinness of the air, restored to me my alacrity40. I forgot the inconveniences under which I laboured, and my mind became lively, spirited, and enthusiastic.
I had now reached the border of the heath, and entered upon what is usually termed the forest. Strange as it may seem, it is nevertheless true, that, in this conjuncture, exhausted41 with hunger, destitute42 of all provision for the future, and surrounded with the most alarming dangers, my mind suddenly became glowing, animated43, and cheerful. I thought that, by this time, the most formidable difficulties of my undertaking44 were surmounted45; and I could not believe that, after having effected so much, I should find any thing invincible46 in what remained to be done. I recollected47 the confinement48 I had undergone, and the fate that had impended49 over me, with horror. Never did man feel more vividly50, than I felt at that moment, the sweets of liberty. Never did man more strenuously51 prefer poverty with independence, to the artificial allurements52 of a life of slavery. I stretched forth53 my arms with rapture54; I clapped my hands one upon the other, and exclaimed, “Ah, this is indeed to be a man! These wrists were lately galled55 with fetters56; all my motions, whether I rose up or sat down, were echoed to with the clanking of chains; I was tied down like a wild beast, and could not move but in a circle of a few feet in circumference57. Now I can run fleet as a greyhound, and leap like a young roe58 upon the mountains. Oh, God! (if God there be that condescends59 to record the lonely beatings of an anxious heart) thou only canst tell with what delight a prisoner, just broke forth from his dungeon60, hugs the blessings61 of new-found liberty! Sacred and indescribable moment, when man regains62 his rights! But lately I held my life in jeopardy, because one man was unprincipled enough to assert what he knew to be false; I was destined63 to suffer an early and inexorable death from the hands of others, because none of them had penetration64 enough to distinguish from falsehood, what I uttered with the entire conviction of a full-fraught heart! Strange, that men, from age to age, should consent to hold their lives at the breath of another, merely that each in his turn may have a power of acting65 the tyrant66 according to law! Oh, God! give me poverty! shower upon me all the imaginary hardships of human life! I will receive them all with thankfulness. Turn me a prey67 to the wild beasts of the desert, so I be never again the victim of man, dressed in the gore-dripping robes of authority! Suffer me at least to call life, and the pursuits of life, my own! Let me hold it at the mercy of the elements, of the hunger of beasts, or the revenge of barbarians68, but not of the cold-blooded prudence69 of monopolists and kings!”— How enviable was the enthusiasm which could thus furnish me with energy, in the midst of hunger, poverty, and universal desertion!
I had now walked at least six miles. At first I carefully avoided the habitations that lay in my way, and feared to be seen by any of the persons to whom they belonged, lest it should in any degree furnish a clue to the researches of my pursuers. As I went forward, I conceived it might be proper to relax a part of my precaution. At this time I perceived several persons coming out of a thicket70 close to me. I immediately considered this circumstance as rather favourable71 than the contrary. It was necessary for me to avoid entering any of the towns and villages in the vicinity. It was however full time that I should procure72 for myself some species of refreshment73, and by no means improbable that these men might be in some way assisting to me in that respect. In my situation it appeared to me indifferent what might be their employment or profession. I bad little to apprehend74 from thieves, and I believed that they, as well as honest men, could not fail to have some compassion75 for a person under my circumstances. I therefore rather threw myself in their way than avoided them.
They were thieves. One of the company cried out, “Who goes there? stand!” I accosted76 them; “Gentlemen,” said I, “I am a poor traveller, almost”— While I spoke77, they came round me; and he that had first hailed me, said, “Damn me, tip us none of your palaver78; we have heard that story of a poor traveller any time these five years. Come, down with your dust! let us see what you have got!”—“Sir,” I replied, “I have not a shilling in the world, and am more than half starved beside.”—“Not a shilling!” answered my assailant, “what, I suppose you are as poor as a thief? But, if you have not money, you have clothes, and those you must resign.”
“My clothes!” rejoined I with indignation, “you cannot desire such a thing. Is it not enough that I am pennyless? I have been all night upon the open heath. It is now the second day that I have not eaten a morsel79 of bread. Would you strip me naked to the weather in the midst of this depopulated forest? No, no, you are men! The same hatred80 of oppression, that arms you against the insolence81 of wealth, will teach you to relieve those who are perishing like me. For God’s sake, give me food! do not strip me of the comforts I still possess!”
While I uttered this apostrophe, the unpremeditated eloquence82 of sentiment, I could perceive by their gestures, though the day had not yet begun to dawn, that the feelings of one or two of the company appeared to take my part. The man, who had already undertaken to be their spokesman, perceived the same thing; and, excited either by the brutality83 of his temper or the love of command, hastened to anticipate the disgrace of a defeat. He brushed suddenly up to me, and by main force pushed me several feet from the place where I stood. The shock I received drove me upon a second of the gang, not one of those who had listened to my expostulation; and he repeated the brutality. My indignation was strongly excited by this treatment; and, after being thrust backward and forward two or three times in this manner, I broke through my assailants, and turned round to defend myself. The first that advanced within my reach, was my original enemy. In the present moment I listened to nothing but the dictates84 of passion, and I laid him at his length on the earth. I was immediately assailed85 with sticks and bludgeons on all sides, and presently received a blow that almost deprived me of my senses. The man I had knocked down was now upon his feet again, and aimed a stroke at me with a cutlass as I fell, which took place in a deep wound upon my neck and shoulder. He was going to repeat his blow. The two who had seemed to waver at first in their animosity, afterwards appeared to me to join in the attack, urged either by animal sympathy or the spirit of imitation. One of them however, as I afterwards, understood seized the arm of the man who was going to strike me a second time with his cutlass, and who would otherwise probably have put an end to my existence. I could hear the words, “Damn it, enough, enough! that is too bad, Gines!”—“How so?” replied a second voice; “he will but pine here upon the forest, and die by inches: it will be an act of charity to put him out of his pain.”— It will be imagined that I was not uninterested in this sort of debate. I made an effort to speak; my voice failed me. I stretched out one hand with a gesture of entreaty86. “You shall not strike, by God!” said one of the voices; “why should we be murderers?”— The side of forbearance at length prevailed. They therefore contented87 themselves with stripping me of my coat and waistcoat, and rolling me into a dry ditch. They then left me totally regardless of my distressed88 condition, and the plentiful89 effusion of blood, which streamed from my wound.
收听单词发音 |
1
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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interspersed
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| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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drizzly
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| a.毛毛雨的(a drizzly day) | |
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caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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jeopardy
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| n.危险；危难 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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asperity
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| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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inclemency
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| n.险恶，严酷 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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luminary
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| n.名人，天体 | |
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doze
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| v.打瞌睡；n.打盹，假寐 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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impelling
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| adj.迫使性的，强有力的v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的现在分词 ) | |
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33
extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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34
prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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deviate
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| v.(from)背离，偏离 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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40
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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41
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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42
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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43
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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45
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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46
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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47
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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49
impended
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| v.进行威胁，即将发生( impend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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51
strenuously
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| adv.奋发地，费力地 | |
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52
allurements
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| n.诱惑( allurement的名词复数 )；吸引；诱惑物；有诱惑力的事物 | |
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53
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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54
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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55
galled
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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56
fetters
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| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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57
circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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58
roe
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| n.鱼卵；獐鹿 | |
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59
condescends
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的第三人称单数 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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60
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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61
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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regains
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| 复得( regain的第三人称单数 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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63
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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64
penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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65
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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67
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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68
barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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69
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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70
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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71
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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72
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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73
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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74
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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75
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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76
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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77
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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78
palaver
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| adj.壮丽堂皇的；n.废话，空话 | |
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79
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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80
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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81
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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82
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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83
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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84
dictates
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| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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85
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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86
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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87
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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88
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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89
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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